Answer....When it is a rose window of course. Rose windows have to rank as one of the most extraordinary architectural features ever developed. They get their name from the rose petal like patterns that are formed by the decorative spokes that radiate from the center of their circular form. They are very common in Gothic architecture and also often found in Romanesque style buildings. Once in a while you will find them in some of the more flowery classical styles. The most amazing and complex versions are typically the Gothic windows. These round windows are normally placed over either the front doors or at the two ends of the nave crossing wings known as the transepts. The windows come in many sizes and can be very big and very lacy. The ancient Gothic churches of France and Germany took the art of the stained glass rose window to the most amazingly gorgeous extreme.
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Although no competition for the old churches of Europe, Buffalo is no slouch when it comes to the rose window. The city may have one of the best collections of these windows in the country. The biggest rose windows in Buffalo might be the transept windows in St. Louis Church on Main Street. It is gorgeous and well worth a special trip to see and study closely. Size does not always matter however. Some of the most fantastic roses in Buffalo are relatively small but packed with detail and color.
We take these incredible works of art for granted in Buffalo. They are so common they become ordinary background to us. In the small sample shown here, many are in danger of neglect and demolition. I was mad at my self while putting this together because I noticed by my thin collection of photos that even I did not often enough focus my camera lens on them. Look at these wonderful creations! Think about how amazing it is to live in a place with such ubiquitous displays of the best in human creativity.
I was too lazy to look up the names of the churches displayed here so I thought I would make a bit of a game out of it. Give me the name and location of each of these numbered images. Hint, 2 of them are the same church. The winner gets a hardy hand shake, pat on the back, and the warm glow of victory. If you don't get at least half of them you can be a winner too by starting to look around more.
"Hint, 2 of them are the same church."
Well, I'm gonna guess those would be #6 and #8, since you helped us out by forgetting to include a #7. :)
1-St. Joseph's Old Cathedral, Franklin St.
2-St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Church St.
3-
4-St. Francis Xavier RC Church, East St.
5-St. Ann's RC Church, Broadway at Emslie
6 and 8-St. Stanislaus RC Church, Townsend St.
9-
10-St. John the Baptist RC Church, Hertel Ave.
11-
12-St. Louis RC Church, Main at Edward
13-St. John the Evangelist RC Church, Seneca St.
14-
15-
OK, I give up on the rest . . .
.